X-14

The good people over at Mom Central were kind enough to include me in the testing of another product recently. I received a bottle of X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover and quickly got to work. Now, I love to clean my bathrooms. Nothing thrills me more than to walk into the bathroom and see everything all shiny and clean. Having said that, I do not like to deal with mildew and it plagues my shower curtain all the time.

This week, I happened to have overnight company coming. When they called to say they were coming early, I panicked since I didn't have time to wash the shower curtain. I grabbed the X-14 and gave it a quick squirt. When I came back a few minutes later, the work was all done. The mildew stains were gone and everything smelled fresh and clean. Problem solved just in time! There was no scrubbing involved. You just squirt and go! It worked wonderfully for me and this is a product I will use in the future.

If you have problems with mold and mildew, give X-14 a try. I think you will be just as satisfied as I was!

I Say Eco You Say Friendly

If there is one thing I spend a lot of time doing, it's laundry. I do at least one load a day for our family of four. That may not seem like a lot but when you consider the water and energy it takes to do this everyday, it adds up. I am constantly trying to find ways to conserve. Many companies are making this easier all the time with the production of new eco-friendly products. One such company is Electrolux. They have joined forces with Kelly Ripa and created a new limited edition, Kelly Green, eco-friendly, front load washer and dryer.

In order to raise awareness and funds for Global Green USA, Electrolux has also kicked off their virtual flower garden campaign. For every virtual flower you plant while visiting their site, Electrolux will donate $1 to Global Green. Global Green will in turn use the money to support their healthy green schools initiative all across America. Also when you plant a virtual flower, you will automatically be entered for a chance to win your very own Kelly Green front load washer and dryer. I don't know about you but I would be more than happy to make room for these!

Want to hear more great news? Mom Central is also giving away one of these sets! In case you missed it, you get TWO chances to win this product, plus you get to plant a virtual flower and help Global Green USA in the process, plus you will be a proud contributor to "green living." How great is that!! Visit Mom Central to sign up for your chance to win!

Got A Stain?

I am always on the look out for great products and last week, I was able to try one that is sure to become a staple in our house, all thanks to MomCentral. We have children and as most of you who have children know, there is always a mess to clean up. That goes with the territory. Our youngest daughter can't sit at the dinner table without getting half her food on the table cloth, in her chair, or on the floor. And when it comes to spilling things on the carpet, well, that is a given around here.

My normal reaction to cleaning up a carpet spill is to drag out the big old carpet cleaner. It's so much work to get it all ready to go, just to clean up one little area. A few days ago there was a chocolate stain that needed to be cleaned up. Instead of the running for the carpet cleaner, I grabbed a bottle of Spot Shot. I had never used it before but was happy to learn that it is non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe to use around our kids and our pets (and we have a lot of those). I sprayed the Spot Shot on the stain and then started to blot it with a clean rag. Instantly, the chocolate started to come up. A few more sprays and five minutes later, you couldn't even tell the chocolate was there! It even removed the chocolate smell that was in the carpet. I was pretty impressed. It's funny but I can't wait for another spill because I know what little bit of work it takes to get it up now. The best part of all of this is that there is also a product called Spot Shot Pet that is said to eliminate all those pesky pet smells. I can't wait to try it!

You can buy Spot Shot in a spray, which is what I used, or an aerosol can. You can find it at most major stores, in the cleaning supply aisle. If you'd like more information before buying this product, check them out at the Spot Shot website. It's well worth trying!

Help For Small Businesses

Several small businesses have opened in our town recently. Many of them started with only the bare necessities to keep costs low, and now they find themselves needing something more. They need help getting equipment to make their work more efficient. They need e-commerce solutions to make their online presence known. That's where Crest Capital comes in.

Crest Capital offers all sorts of solutions to help established businesses take the next step in growing their companies. They offer financing to help with anything from software purchases to business equipment leasing. They process your loan applications quickly which means you get the things you need to help your business faster than if you applied for a loan with major bank. If you have an established small business and need help obtaining equipment or e-commerce solutions to grow that business, give Crest Capital a moment to show you how they can serve you faster and better than anyone else.

Small Business Financing

Have you been thinking about starting a small business? Are you looking for ways to finance and expand that business? If you answered yes, then PCA is the company for you. Preferred Capital Alliance, Inc. wants to help you obtain the financing you need to open that business and make it successful. PCA works with over 200 lenders and lessors to help build your business. Their goal is to help you get better rates and terms than your local bank can offer, and in many cases, they are able to do so. PCA is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and they have built a trustworthy reputation. Want to learn more? Click here to learn about business financing . Go online today to chat with a representative and find out how PCA can work for you.

Security Solutions for Businesses

My husband works in the IT industry and is constantly concerned with security issues. On a daily basis, he uses SSH, SFTP , and telnet services that are built into the operating systems he administrates. Many of the companies that provide these tools fall short in features and security. Pragma Systems focuses entirely on intranet and internet security solutions for businesses. Pragma makes it their business to see that your company receives the fastest and most secure solutions for your needs.

Modern Furniture

There nothing I love more than remodeling things in our home. It's so much fun and so much satisfaction comes from it. There is a lot of that in our future but for now, we're trying to buy nice pieces for our home, as we can afford them. Recently we purchased a new mattress set and we are in the market for a headboard and footboard for it. We have looked in several local stores but couldn't find anything that fit our tastes. While searching online, I came across several things I really like, including a line of modern furniture that caught my attention. It has such a unique style to it and I love things like that. While I'm at it, I think I may see if I can talk the hubby into a new kitchen set!

Got Pens?

Looking for the perfect gift for your co-workers? Why not purchase some of these promotional pens ? They make the perfect gift for any occasion. They come in a variety of colors and styles. The best part is that you can personalize them! Who wouldn't love a personalized pen?

These pens are also great for family reunions, fund raisers, conferences, or seminars. PensRUs offers discounts on large quantity orders. They offer fast shipping and right now you can save $25 off of your $250 order. Want to see a sample before ordering? No problem. Fill out the online form and request a sample beforehand. So what are you waiting for?

In Need of New Luggage

When is the last time you took a trip? Was it a long trip or a short one? When I take a trip, I over pack. I'm not sure why I started doing that. I guess I just want to be prepared in case of emergency. When hubby and I went to NY last year, I packed so much that I could not have put one more item in the suitcase. I always hide when it's time for him to pack our luggage into the car. I just know when he lifts my suitcase, he's going to ask what all I've packed!

We've never been the type of family to take a week long vacation. We've always taken long weekend trips. I think the longest trip we've been on, as a family, has been about four nights. We take several of these short trips every year. 2008 will be even no exception since my hubby has decided to start competing in bagpipe competitions. Because ours took such a beating on the trip to NY, we'll need to purchase new luggage sets for these travels. His first competition is in February, in Charleston, SC. I'm looking forward to his ventures in this area because I know how much he loves playing the pipes. I will not be able to go on every trip with him but I hope to accompany him on quite a few of them. I love going to new places and seeing all of the things it has to offer. How about you? Do you travel? Do you like to travel? If you could go anywhere, where would it be?

Send Free E-Cards

Looking to send free e-cards? Look no further. Here's where to get the month2month free eCards . This year, Month2Month teamed with Toys for Tots to raise money for needy children. For every e-card sent, Month2Month donated money to help buy toys for these children. The e-cards available are absolutely free and are fully animated. There are many beautiful cards to chose from and I liked several of the 2008 New Year cards. Since the new year is upon us, go check out the e-cards and send a few while you're there. It's a lot of fun and for a good cause!

Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:

Bill Grein
Marine Toys for Tots
V: 703-640-9433
F: 703-640-0917
wjgrein@toysfortots.org
http://www.toysfortots.org

Steven Marcus
Month2Month.com
V: 914-933-2638
F: 501-325-9147
smarcus@month2month.com
http://www.month2month.com

Marines Toys for Tots Needs Last Minute Help
Quantico, VA. December 21, 2007 / PR Newswire – The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is making a nationwide last minute appeal for more toys. Since time is critical as they go into their toy distribution phase this weekend the Foundation is encouraging people to make cash contributions because it allows them to purchase the toys they need to fill in gaps and match the remaining needs.
One novel way to get cash immediately into the hands of the Marines is to send lots of holiday eCards to everyone you know. Month2Month.com, a free eCard website has agreed to contribute up to $50,000 when their cards are sent and received.
Bill Grein, Vice President for Marines Toys for Tots, said: "Cash contributions are critical for us at this time because we can purchase the toys we need and can place them where they are needed most at the last minute. It will help us close a gap in many areas where the economy, toy recalls and even bad weather have caused us to come short of our goals so far. We urge everyone to take advantage of this wonderful offer from Month2Month."
John Aslanian, CEO of Month2Month.com said: "We are expecting to have 1 million cards sent in the next few days that could result in a contribution of up to $50,000. We know that for some the economy might be putting a crimp in their generosity. But what this can do is to save them the cost of buying cards and the postage. We are asking everyone to send these cards, even if they already sent other cards, to help make this a merry Christmas and happy holiday for many more needy children."

Month2Month.com cards are all produced by top-notch artists working in a loft studio just outside of New York City. The cards show great care in design and detail and often take weeks or months to complete. They are all professionally animated often requiring hundreds of frames to get the motion to look smooth and flowing. Month2Month.com is a privately held online greeting company founded in 2005. The site offers free high quality online greeting cards and can be found at http://www.month2month.com.
This year marks the 60th anniversary for the Toys for Tots tradition of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. In 2006, Toys for Tots delivered more than 19.2 million toys to over 7.6 million children.

Self-Defense Products

We all think of protecting our family whether it be at home or while we are out. We take necessary precautions to ensure maximum safety. Some may own a handgun while others choose alternate methods of protection. Some of the popular choices are stun guns, pepper spray, or some kind of household surveillance.

A few days ago, we were given the opportunity to review one of the many self defense products by Security Solutions. They were kind enough to send us one of their Tri-Pack Pepper Shot 10% Plus products. This product is a 10% pepper spray solution that uses very fine grain pepper, which makes it more effective than most pepper sprays on the market. The spray works by swelling mucous membranes so that breathing becomes difficult. It also swells the veins in the eyes causing them to close. The affect lasts 20-30 minutes, and causes no permanent damage. It simply allows you enough time to get to safety and get help.

Our package came with a 2 ounce wall mount spray for the home. It is meant to be mounted in a safe place that you have quick and easy access to. If there is a break in at your home, you want to be able to reach the spray quickly so that you might defend yourself. It also came with a 1/2 ounce visor clip to keep in your vehicle. With carjacking and other crazy things going on these days, it's a good idea to have something like this that is easily accessible in the event that you suffer an attack. Lastly, the package contained a 1/2 ounce spray with a quick release key chain. This is a handy thing to have, especially for females, for those situations where you are alone and need added protection.

Overall, this product is effective, easy to use, and can be placed in easily accessible places in your home, car, or on your person. Having the product makes me feel safer and I think it will be an effective defense in the event that I need protection.

Weight Loss Resolution for 2008

It seems like every year, I'm talking about starting the year fresh by exercising and loosing some weight. I never seem to do it but I really would love to take the necessary steps to see that happen. I have the perfect place to walk since we live in a quiet subdivision. Treadmills are expensive but I'd love to have a new electric one to put in the garage to use in the winter months. I have an old manual one but that thing is just so hard on my knees. I ache for days after using it.

I guess if I could find a diet plan that I could stick to, I would have better success as well. I've tried doing a low calorie diet but I always get so hungry. I don't need to loose major weight, only about twenty pounds. That sounds simple and easy enough. I think I have issues with diets in general because as soon as I hear the word, I'm hungry. I would love to find some kind of plan that would work in conjunction with exercise to help me lose the weight in a decent amount of time. I need to cut my caffeine in take, which I'm sure makes me crave food. Then there is my issue with sugar. At some point I have to realize that my diet is unhealthy because it consists of 90% sugar. Once I get a grip on my sweet tooth, I'm sure I could do well. So for 2008, I want to change my diet to be more health conscious and I want to get a good treadmill so that I'll exercise more. Today I'm off to make a plan to do these things. After all, if you write something down, aren't you more accountable to follow through? I sure hope so!

Do You Have Sensitve Teeth?

For the past year, it seems that I have spent much time in my dentist's office. I have had all kinds of issues and I've had major work done. Most recently, I had two wisdom teeth cut out. After the surgery, I found that I suffer from having sensitive teeth. Although I think this sensitivity has been worsened by the nerve damage I suffered from this surgery, I think I have had a little problem with it for years. I have never been able to drink from a glass without a straw. I find that it is mostly cold drinks that bother me and I panic if I'm not given a straw with my drink. There have been times that I have had to drink this way and it was a slow, painful process. It is very unpleasant and not something I want to deal with my entire life.

I've been reading about this new product called Biotene, which is supposed to get to the root of sensitive tooth pain rather than just block it, like most sensitive toothpaste does. For me, this would make a world of difference. I've never really considered using this type of product before because none of them stood out and there are too many to choose from. However, Biotene claims to get to the root of the problem instead of just covering it up. This is an advantage that is has on other products.

If you suffer from this same problem, why not give Biotene a try? You can order it through your pharmacy or you can pick it up anywhere Biotene is sold, including Bi-Lo or Rite Aid. If you want to try it beforehand, consider ordering a care pak online from Biotene for only $5.

NYC: Hard On The Luggage

During our visit to NYC last year, my luggage really took a beating. I recently noticed just how bad it was when I had to drag our suitcases out for our Thanksgiving trip to my mom's. Hubby actually lost a wheel while we were in NYC. Thank goodness it was near the end of our trip as we were leaving the hotel. We stayed in Queens and had a mile long trek to get to the subway station. We took that to Grand Central Station and then we hopped onto the NJ Transit, which took us to Newark to the airport. This was a long way to try and roll a piece of luggage with one wheel so we picked it up and carried it some of the time. Just imagine if it had broken on our way into NYC. We would have had to fight it on the trip in and on the trip home. Not my idea of a fun time!

For now, we can use our beat up luggage but if we ever fly again, we'll definitely need new stuff. This makes me wonder if there are any really good alternatives out there. Most luggage has plastic hardware on the bottom to hold the wheels on. Have you had a problem with your luggage wheels breaking? Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from happening? Is there any brand of luggage that provides a warranty or replacement for such things?

Bathroom Faucets

We moved into our current house about four years ago. It was built in the late 80's and when we bought it, everything was all original. We've upgraded many things and the next thing on our list is the bathrooms. They all have 80's style cabinets and bath faucets. We want a more modern look to the fixtures so we'll be checking out the variety of choices that faucet.com has to offer. Personally, I love the vessel style sinks and the vessel filler faucets. The spout on them is higher and my hubby will be able to get his big hands under it easier.

At faucet.com, you'll also find faucet buying guides as well as installation instructions. I also noticed that they were offering free shipping on orders over $99 so head over there and check it out.

The Cooperative Bank

Are you a U.K. resident looking for a credit card to fit your needs? If so, The Cooperative Bank is sure to have what you are looking for. They offer credit cards with 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers for six months. Need a card with a fixed rate? No problem! The flat rate platinum card gives you a fixed rate for five years. They even offer affinity cards, which give a specified amount of money to an organization of your choice, when you use your card. For example, the first time you use your Shelter Card, The Cooperative Bank will donate a specified amount of money to Shelter, which benefits homeless persons. Need a travel card? The Cooperative Bank has you covered. Their travel card offers free travel insurance and gives you travel reward points each time you use the card.

You can't go wrong with all of the credit card options offered by The Cooperative Bank. Check them out today to find the card you have been looking for!

 

Alpaca Yarn

 

My friend Jenny loves to crochet. She's always on the look out for quality yarn at a good price. I can't wait to tell her about Alpaca Direct! They have a huge selection of yarn , including alpaca silk and pima. They even offer free shipping on orders of $50 or more! I wonder how she'll calculate how much yarn she'll need for her project? No problem! They even have a yarn estimator to help her with this! I can't wait to tell her all about it! She's going to be so excited!

Dial A Flight

With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, many people will be looking for cheap flights and holiday offers. Whether you are looking for flights to Canada or flights to Malaysia, Dial A Flight is the place to start. Not only will you find flights, you'll also find Caribbean spa holidays, weekend breaks in Cyprus, and even beach holidays in Antigua! I don't know about you, but I could use a beach holiday in Antigua!

Overhead Bike Racks

Over the weekend, the girls and I cleaned out the garage. We were trying to get things organized and we were doing a pretty good job, until we came to their bikes. They take up alot of our garage floor space. They are constantly getting knocked over because they are always in the way. If I had a neat overhead bike rack, all my problems would be solved!

So mom, if you're reading, I know what the girls could use for Christmas!

**sponsored**

Graphic Design Companies

For many years, I have tried to talk my mom into starting her own interior design business. She has always been worried about where to begin. Since many people shop and do business online, I've encouraged her to make sure she has a good Web site. This will be the "face" of her company and one of the most important parts of the business. The first thing she needs to do is to check out potential Graphic design companies. An online image is so very important to making a business successful.

I am pretty particular when it comes to online shopping. If a company has a good Web site, I am more inclined to do business with them rather than a company that has a poor or mediocre visual presence. Professional design companies offer so many creative options and definitely give your Web site what it takes to be pleasing to potential customers. Many companies don't stop at Web site design. They might also offer graphic design, search engine optimization, email marketing, public relations, and even logo design. Professional companies are trained in these areas and can offer you the best solutions for all of your needs. If you're thinking of starting a business and want to make sure it is as successful as it can possibly be, let the professionals handle your Web site and graphic design needs.